Shakespearean Comedy
In Shakespearean comedy, forces of chaos seem to contribute to a larger harmony; the promiscuity of unregulated sexual desire leads to a prospect of constancy and marriage. This is the reason why Shakespeare’s Comedy Plays always include marriage in the end. Shakespeare was very familiar with classical Greek comedy. The Grecian “Old Comedy” was generally satirical and frequently political in nature, containing within it an abundance of sexual innuendos. He also includes the comedy styles of Commedia dell’arte. He uses the stock characters akin to Commedia dell’arte such as the foolish old man, the devious bravado, or military officers full of false bravado. Shakespeare took the best comedic traits of various styles of Comedy and applied them to his 18 comedies.
Shakespeare has four main comedic plot designs that separate them from the tragedies and histories. The first plot design is comedy through language. Shakespeare communicated his comedies through language, which are peppered with clever word play, metaphors, and insults. The second theme is love. Love is prevalent in every Shakespeare comedy. We are often presented with sets of lovers who, through the course of the play, overcome their obstacles in their relationship and unite. The third plot is mistaken identity. Shakespeare generally drives the plot by using mistaken identity in order to create conflict. This is usually the Villain’s role in comedic plays. Characters might also appear in scenes in which they are disguised and it is not uncommon for female characters to disguise themselves as male characters. The last design is creating a complex plot line. The plot line of a Shakespearean comedy contains more twists and turns than his tragedies and histories. Although the plots are convoluted, they do follow similar patterns. The climax of the play, for example, always occurs in the third act, and the final scene has a celebratory feel when the lovers finally declare their love for each other. Shakespeare is considered to be a formula writer. When he found something that worked, he would use it again in a future play to please his audience.
Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is one of his later plays sometimes referred to as a Romance or “Problem Play”. “Problem Plays” have tragic elements, but utilize the main plot lines of a Shakespearean Comedy. The first half of the play, taking place in Sicilia, includes many tragic elements such as the psychological drama that torments King Leontes, and the death of his wife, Queen Hermione. But near the end of Act III, which is set in Bohemia, Shakespeare includes many plot designs to bring the lightheartedness of a comedy. This is a symbol of the genesis of new life, where life and comedy are brought back into the play. In order to combine both tragedy and comedy, Perdita is introduced. She is the baby that King Leontes believes is a “bastard” child. In Act IV, after a 16-year time leap, Perdita is now the daughter of the Old Shepherd and falls in love with the Bohemian Prince, Florizel. She later marries him, as is required for all Shakespearean Comedies, and provides the reason for the tragic Sicilia and comedic Bohemia to combine into one.
Shakespeare has four main comedic plot designs that separate them from the tragedies and histories. The first plot design is comedy through language. Shakespeare communicated his comedies through language, which are peppered with clever word play, metaphors, and insults. The second theme is love. Love is prevalent in every Shakespeare comedy. We are often presented with sets of lovers who, through the course of the play, overcome their obstacles in their relationship and unite. The third plot is mistaken identity. Shakespeare generally drives the plot by using mistaken identity in order to create conflict. This is usually the Villain’s role in comedic plays. Characters might also appear in scenes in which they are disguised and it is not uncommon for female characters to disguise themselves as male characters. The last design is creating a complex plot line. The plot line of a Shakespearean comedy contains more twists and turns than his tragedies and histories. Although the plots are convoluted, they do follow similar patterns. The climax of the play, for example, always occurs in the third act, and the final scene has a celebratory feel when the lovers finally declare their love for each other. Shakespeare is considered to be a formula writer. When he found something that worked, he would use it again in a future play to please his audience.
Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is one of his later plays sometimes referred to as a Romance or “Problem Play”. “Problem Plays” have tragic elements, but utilize the main plot lines of a Shakespearean Comedy. The first half of the play, taking place in Sicilia, includes many tragic elements such as the psychological drama that torments King Leontes, and the death of his wife, Queen Hermione. But near the end of Act III, which is set in Bohemia, Shakespeare includes many plot designs to bring the lightheartedness of a comedy. This is a symbol of the genesis of new life, where life and comedy are brought back into the play. In order to combine both tragedy and comedy, Perdita is introduced. She is the baby that King Leontes believes is a “bastard” child. In Act IV, after a 16-year time leap, Perdita is now the daughter of the Old Shepherd and falls in love with the Bohemian Prince, Florizel. She later marries him, as is required for all Shakespearean Comedies, and provides the reason for the tragic Sicilia and comedic Bohemia to combine into one.